Air Force coach Troy Calhoun focused solely on his football team

AIR FORCE ACADEMY — Coach Troy Calhoun was focused on getting his Air Force team ready to play in the Armed Forces Bowl at practice Friday, brushing off any interest in the rash of head coaching changes in major-college football.

When Calhoun was asked whether he had been contacted by anyone involved in a coaching search, he called the issue "irrelevant."

He added, "All my energy and focus is on the Air Force Academy and getting our team ready to play in a bowl game. When you can go to a bowl game and have a winning season at the Air Force Academy, you've had a good season. Our sights are set on recruiting and preparing for the bowl game."

Calhoun said he has no interest in keeping track of the coaching market as the Falcons prepare for their Dec. 29 game against the Rice Owls in Fort Worth, Texas.

"It's going to be a great game," Calhoun said. "Rice played exceptionally well down the stretch of the season. We saw how they dominated SMU in their game and the way they marched the football against UCLA."

Calhoun continued to list special-teams players Anthony LaCoste and Connor Healy and linebacker Josh Kusan as likely to return to action after missing some of the regular season because of injuries.

Calhoun wasn't so sure about center Austin Hayes, who was the second of the three centers to play for the Falcons this season.

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"We'll probably have to wait another 10 days and see where we are," Calhoun said. "Maybe we'll know about the time we finish practicing here."

The Falcons are scheduled to end their bowl practices at the academy on Dec. 19.

Calhoun is confident that senior quarterback Connor Dietz will be a starter against the Owls. Dietz missed the second half of the final regular-season game against Fresno State. Calhoun didn't rule out sophomore QB Kale Pearson getting some playing time against Rice.

"He could play a few snaps," Calhoun said of Pearson. "Perhaps."

Calhoun said his team returned to the practice field and showed "great energy. After a little bit of a break, you realize how lucky you are to be playing college football."

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